Motorized wheel



Nov. 11,1947.

S. `C. MOON MOTORIZED WHEEL Filed Dec. 12, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet', l

Nov. l1, 1947., s. c. MooN MOTORIZED WHEEL Filed Dec. 12,` 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Om .NN

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Patented Nov. 11, 1947 UNITED MOTORIZED WHEEL Sterling C. Moon, Worthington, Ohio, assignor,

by mesne assignments, to The Jeilrey Manu- `facturing Company, a corporation of Ohio I Application December 12, 1942, Serial No. 468,848

112 Claims. (Cl. 180-66) 'This invention relates to a motorized wheel and the .principal object of the invention isl to provide improved motorized wheel construction with a high horsepower rating requiring a minimum of space with reduction gearing between the driving motor and the wheel.

A further object of the invention is to provide a compact and economical arrangement Of a motorized wheel employing a hydraulic motor mounted principally within the axial and radial dimensions of the wheel together with reduction gearing for driving the wheel from the motor.V

4Still another object of' the invention is to provide a compact arrangement of steerable motorized wheel employing a hydraulic motor largely within the radial and axial confines of the wheel together with speed reducing gearing between the hydraulic motor and the wheel and brake mechanism provided for the wheel.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an extremely compact motor wheel employing a hydraulic motor to obtain maximum-horse power rating for a minimum of size.

Other obj ects of the invention will appear hereinafter, the novel features and combinations being set forth in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings,

Fig. 1 is a. sectional view on an upright axis through the motorized wheelA of my invention, the holding bracket being shown only partly in section;

Fig. 2 is a section ofthe wheel of Fig. 1 taken in a horizontal plane or at right angles to the plane of Fig. l, the supporting bracket being omitted in the interest of clearness;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line of 3-3 of Fig. 2 looking in the direction of the arrows with certain parts omitted in the interest of clearness; and i Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 4-4- of Fig. 3 looking in the direction of the arrows with certain parts omitted in the interest of clearness.

Referring particularly to Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, it will be seen that the motorized wheel cups I2 and I3 by anti-friction roller bearings I6, I6. It is evident that the pivotal mounting of the casting I on bracket members I4-I5 makes the motorized wheel steerable in character which is the preferred construction. It is,.of course, within the realm of my inventionto attach the casting I0 permanently to the bracket members I4--I 5 to make a, non-steerable motorized wheel.

The outer end of the casting or stub axle I0 is provided with spaced cylindrical surfaces upon which are mounted spaced anti-friction roller bearings I1 and I3, the inner race of the former the wheel 23.

abutting against an annularshoulder formed on the casting I0 and the inner race of the latter abutting a large annular washer I9 which is held in position by a large threaded nut 20 which is threaded on the outer edge of the casting I0 and operates to adjust the roller bearings I1 and I8. The washer I9 is held against rotation by projections II! extending into grooves in th'e outer end or casting I0 and is provided with bendable locking tabs 2I which cooperate with receiving notches 22 formed in the outer periphery of the nut 20 to lock the latter after it is screwed to the desired position. 'Ihe roller bearings I1 and I8 provide anti-friction support for a wheel 23 which is thus mounted upon said stub `axle or casting I0 for free rotation. I

The wheel 23 is provided with a tire receiving rim 24 which may have a removable ring 25 to provide for ready removal of a pneumatic or rubber tire 26. The rim 24 is re'movably attached to the wheel 23 by lugs 21 (see Fig. 2) and cooperating lug bolts and nuts 28.- The wheel 23 also includes a removable hub cap 29 removably attached thereto as by screws 30. Also rigidly attached to the wheel 23and in fact constituting a part thereof, is a brake drum 3| which is screwed to the wheel l23 as by screws 32 (see bottom of Fig. 2). `The brake drum 3l has an uprightweb which carries a large ring grease seal 33 which is formed in a groove in said web and which cooperates .with an adjacent cylindrical surface formed on casting I0. -Also cooperating with the grease seal 33 to hold it removably in place as well as forming a part of the seal ls a removable metal ring 34 which is held in place adjacent the outer race of the anti-friction bearing I'I and adjacent an' outer wall of the brake drum 3 I, said ring 34 also being formed in an annular groove formed adjacent the inner edge of Brake shoes 35, 35 (Fig. 3) are pivotally mounted at their bottoms to adjusting and supporting bolts 36, 36 which are attached to wings formed integral with the casting IU. The

Upper end of each brake shoe 35 carries a hydraulically operated cylinder motor 31, each having a piston adapted to bear against an integral bracket 38 also formed on the casting I0.

As clearly seen by reference to Fig. 2 of the drawings, the brake mechanism is substantially completely housed within the brake drum 3| and the casting I which is provided with an elongated oval shaped extension 39 which is formed as an integral part of said casting I0, the elongated axis of the oval shaped extension 39 being in a substantially horizontal plane as is evident by comparison between Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings.

The casting or stub axle I0 is, of course, nonrotary in character, being held against rotation by the trunnions I I, but it is mounted for pivotal movement by said trunnion. This casting forms a housing or casing for a driving motor and therefore is actually an integral part of the driving motor which is designated generally by the reference character 40.

In the drawings, I have illustrated the motor 48 as of the hydraulic type and this is the preferred type 0f motor because in general by employing hydraulic fluid of high pressure it is possible to obtain greater horse power per unit of volume from a hydraulic motor as compared with other types of motors, but it is to be distinctly understood that in some of the broader aspects of my invention as defined by some of the broader claims the motor 48 may be of any other desired type and, for example, may be an electric motor.

Fundamentally the hydraulic motor 40 preferably is of the structure disclosed and claimed in the application of Robert K. J eirey, deceased, sensi No. 348,765, med July 31, 1940, new Patent No. 2,331,694, granted October 12, 1943, entitled Hydraulic pump or motor. Other hydraulic motors of this same general type may be employed if desired.

Briefly described, said motor 4U includes a housing which is part of the casting I0 the inner walls of which are formed by an enlarged cavity or opening 4I in said casting Ill, in which cavity 4I also is a rotor 42 mounted on and keyed to a rotor shaft 43 which is mounted in spaced anti-friction bearings 44 and 45, the bearing 44 being in a head plate 46 of the motor 48, which head plate 46 is removably attached to the casting I8 as by screws 41. vided with appropriate feed and discharge ports and conduits communicating with the axially extending cylinder of the rotor 42 as disclosed in full detail in the above mentioned application of Robert K. Jeffrey, deceased, and as is well understood by those familiar with hydraulic motors of this general type.

The rotor 42 has a plurality of reciprocating pistons 48 within the cylinders above mentioned, which pistons 48 cooperate with the tilted ring 48 mounted by anti-friction bearings on a tilted swash plate 50 which is supported upon a base 5I screwed and keyed to the casting I0. Formed in a groove in said casting I8 and adjacent the base 5I and anti-friction bearing 45 and cooper- The head plate 46 is proating with the rotor shaft 43 is an o-il seal 52.

motor 40, which motor is of the reversible character and will be driven in reverse direction at the option of the operator merely by making said conduits 53 and 54 successively pressure and return conduits. A drain conduit 56 is also provided to drain leakage oil from the cavity 4I as Well as other cavities in casting I0.

The rotor shaft 43 of the motor 40 is connected to drive the wheel 23 through reduction gearing which, in the preferred embodiment of my invention, includes three speed reductions which I shall now describe. The inner end of the rotor shaft 43 is provided with a pinion gear 59 preferably formed integral therewith which meshes with and drives a larger gear 60, which gear 6D is formed integral with a shaft 6I which carries thereon a small gear 62 also formed integral therewith. Shaft 6I is supported in anti-friction bearings one of which is mounted in a cup in extension 39 of casting I0, the other of which is mounted in a cup formed on an oval shaped removable cap 63 which is removably attached to extension 39 and cooperates therewith to form a gear casing or housing, said cap 63 being removably attached by machine screws 64 (see Fig. 1). Gear 62 meshes with an idler gear 65 mounted by anti-friction bearings on a stub shaft 66 removably mounted, as by machine screws, to the cap 63, said stub shaft 66 having a removable head which removably holds the idler gear thereon. Idler gear 65 meshes with a relatively large gear 61 which is keyed to a shaft 68 mounted upon spaced anti-friction bearings, one of which is held in a cup in removable cap 63, the other of which is in a cup formed at the outer end of a cavity or opening 69 formed in the casting I 0. Formed integral with the shaft 68 is a pinion gear 10 which meshes with an internally toothed ring gear 1I which is rigidly attached to the wheel 23 and is positioned between the antifriction bearings I1 and I8.

'Ihere is a three stage reduction between the rotor shaft 43 and wheel 23, the first reduction being between gears 59 and 68, the former being smaller than the latter, the second reduction being between gears 62 and 61, the former being smaller than the latter, the interposed idler gear 65 having no reducing eiect. The third reduction is between gears 10 and 1I, the former being considerably smaller than the latter.

By reference particularly to Fig. 2 of the drawings it will be noted that the driving motor and gear train by which it is connected to the wheel is extremely compact and most of the motor and final drive is within both the radial and axial confines of the complete wheel, the complete wheel in this case and in the claims being understood as including not only the wheel proper designated by the reference character 23 but also the attached brake drum 3 I.

There are a number o-f structural features which cooperate to provide this compact arrangement while at the same time providing for the desired three speed gear reduction which I shall point out hereinafter. It may be stated that while the three stage gear reduction is the preferred arrangement, it is within the scope of my invention in some of its broader aspects that the speed reduction be of the single or double stage type.

The compactness of the parts providing for ready mounting of the motorized wheel on a vehicle so that it can be steered, is the result of certain combinations and arrangements, many of which are evident from the above description A and some of which I shall now point out particularly. v

In the first place the casting I is in the form of a hollow stub shaft which forms a housing for the motor 40 and portions of the gear train leading tothe wheel 23. By reference to Fig. 2 of the drawings wherein a centerline for A thewheel 23 and the tire 26 is illustrated at 12,'

A inwardly beyond the axial confines of the wheel to Fig. 2.that the axis of the rotor shaft 43 is duits such as 53 which forms a pipe or duct conveying the hydraulic fluid such as oil under pressure to the motor 40. The other conduit 54 under these conditions forms a pipe or conduit for the parallel with the axis of rotation of the wheel thereof, and at its outer end it drives the internal gear 1I which is outside the center line or plane 12. Furthermore, shaft 68 is parallel with shaft 43 and spaced therefrom and also'parallel with and spaced from the axis of wheel 23-3|. As a consequence all of the reduction gears are plain spur type and no bevel or helical gears are involved.

It is also to be noted that the motor 40 substantially in its entirety and a portion of the reduction gearing including a part of the'shaft 6B and theA gear 10 andv ring gear 1I, are entirely within the radial confines of the bearings l1. and I8 and the Wheel 23-3I and also largely within the axial confines of said wheel, although a portion of the motor 40 including the head plate 46 and a very small portion of the shaft 68 extends outwardly beyond the axial-conilnes of said wheel 233I. The inner end of shaft 68 extends inwardly of the axial confines of wheel 23-3I.

The inner end of the stub axle or housing Ill is mounted by the trunnions I I to frame members of the vehicle, namely, the bracket I4- I5 and the extreme inner end of said `casting I0 which is in the form of the integral extension 39 is inwardly of the axis of said trunnions I I. lIt is thus evident that most of the reduction 'gearingrall excepting that provided by gears 10 and 1|, is adjacent the inner end ofthe stub axle and `is inwardly rof the center line or plane 12 and in fact is inwardly of a plane along the inner edge of and thus outside the axial confines of the wheel 23-3I. Also the axes of shafts 43, 6I and 6B and of gears 59, 60, 62, 65, 61, 10 and 1I all lie in a single horizontal plane which passes through the axis of rotation of the wheel 233i. This maintains a low height for the casing for gears 60, 62, 65 and 61 and allows the trunnions Il and bracket cups I2 to be within the radial confines of wheel 23-3I.

It may be further pointed out that steering of the wheel is provided in the usual manner of a steering vehicle by swinging it on the trunnions Il the cap 63 being provided at its rear with an ear 13 adapted to receive a steering rod or the like.

In the operation of the wheel, hydraulic fluid under pressure will be delivered to one of the conreturn of the nuid from said motor 40. VThe hydraulic fluid is, of course, provided by a pump or the like and pressure is preferably applicable selectively to conduits 5.3 or 54 by a control valve of well known construction to cause fthe motorv 40 to operate in reverse directions, thus providing forreverse rotation of the motorized wheel. The motor 40 is a relatively high speed motor. Due to this fact and due to the available high pressure fluid the overall dimensions of the motor 40 are relatively small and this is one of the reasons why I prefer a hydraulic motor to other types of motors, although, as previously stated, other types may be employed within the scope of my invention in some of its broader aspects. When .the motor 40 operates, the rotor shaft ,43 rotates and this motion is transferred to the wheel 23--3I through the aforedescribed three stage reduction gearing involving simple, rugged spur gears.

It is also to be noted that I have provided a very large brake mechanism having appreciable braking area and a brake drum with a large diameter, the brake preferably'being of the hydraulic type and being mounted upon the casting I0 and being within the radial and axial confines of the wheel 233|. The brake mechanism is well proof application is in the field of coal mining in.4

which it is employed on4 coal carrying buggies, coal korf-cutting machines, and coal loading machines. As is well known the overall height of a coal seam is sometimes very restricted, consequently the maximum outside' diameter of the Wheel and the tire thereon is limited, as a consequence of which thel diameter of the wheel is lim- -ited since tires of fairly great width are required. These factors contribute to make the size of the wheel and rim relatively small and the compactness of the structure which I have provided lends itself to being within the radial dimensions of a Wheel of relatively small diameter and at the same time not unduly extending the axial dimensions of the motorized wheel and thus preventing czumbersomeness in the complete overall strucure.

Also, the reducing gears in the housing formed by extension 39 and cap 63 may be varied in sizes to vary the total reduction from shaft 43 to wheel 23-3I in a large number of steps. I have designed such gears for a range from 49 to 1 reduction up to 9 to 1. This takes care of different demands of different machines. The three steps of speed reduction make this wide range in steps possible.

Obviously those skilled in the art may make various changes in the details and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the claims hereto appended, and I therefore wish not to be restricted to the precise construction herein disclosed.

Having thus described and shown an embodiment of my invention, what I desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A motorized wheel comprising the combination with a hollow stub axle, of a whee1 mounted thereon for rotation relative thereto, means for mounting the inner end of said stub axle to a vehicle, a hydraulic motor in said hollow stub axle having a head adjacent the outer end thereof and a rotor largely within the axial conilnes of said wheel and mouned on a shaft extending parallel to the axis of rotation thereof and axially from one side thereof to the other, reduction drive gearing connecting said shaft to said wheel including another shaft also extending axially from one side of said wheel to the other, hydraulic feed pipes leading to said head and formed as ducts in said hollow stub axle, and terminals for said feed pipes adjacent the inner end of said stub axle.

2. A motorized wheel including a stub axle, a

, wheel mounted thereon for rotation, means pivotally supporting said axle adjacent the inside thereof, a motor and reduction gearing carried within said stub axle and driving said wheel, the axes of said reduction gearing lying in a, single horizontal plane and said gearing being positioned inwardly with respect to the supporting means and a housing for said reduction gearing including a substantially rectangular extension carried adjacent the inside thereof and having its major axis in a horizontal plane.

3. A motorized wheel construction including a stub axle, a wheel, bearing means mounting said wheel for rotation on said axle, a motor including a housing formed by said stub axle, a rotor and a straight rotor shaft carrying said rotor and mounted for rotation in said stub axle along an axis parallel with the axis of rotation of said wheel and extending substantially equally to opposite sides of the center plane of said wheel and to opposite sides of said bearing means, said motor being entirely within the radial confines of said bearing means and said rotor being substantially wholly within'the axial connes thereof, and drive gearing between said rotor shaft and said wheel including another' shaft mounted for rotation in said stub axle and located within the radial confines of said bearing means While extending parallel With said first named shaft and axially on opposite sides of said center plane of said Wheel.

4. A motorized wheel including an enlarged stub axle, a wheel mounted for rotation thereon, a motor in said stub axle includingr a rotor mounted on a shaft supported in said stub axle and having an axis parallel with the axis of rotation of said wheel, said shaft extending across the central plane of said wheel and having a driving gear on its inner end, spaced upper and lower trunnions on said stub axle, gearing interconnecting said shaft with said Wheel including said driving gear, said gearing being located largely on the opposite side of sa'id trunnions from the rotor and including a drive shaft extending from said opposite side across said central plane.

5. A motorized wheel comprising in combination, a wheel; a housing; bearing means mounting said wheel for rotation upon said housing, the housing having an elongated end forming a gearv case the major axis of which lies substantially at a right angle to the axis of rotation of said wheel and having a cylindrical portion extending into and contained within the axial and radial confines of said wheel; a motor having a shaft mounted rotor contained within the cylindrical portion of the housing and having its shaft extending into the gear casing; a gear on the end of the rotor shaft; reduction gearing in Said gear case driven by said rotor shaft gear; drive means for said wheel including an internally toothed ring gear mounted to the wheel and adjacent the cylindrical portion of the housing; a drive shaft within the housing connecting said reduction gearing and wheel drive means; trunnions on opposite walls of the gear case portion of said housing, and means for supporting said trunnions.

6. A motorized Wheel comprising in combination, a wheel; a housing; bearing means mounting said wheel for rotation upon said housing, the housing having an elongated end forming a gear case the maior axis of which lies substantially at a right angle to the axis of rotation of said wheel and having a cylindrical portion extending into and contained within the axial and radial confines of said wheel; a hydraulic motor having a shaft mounted rotor contained within the cylindrical portion of the housing and having its shaft extending into the gear casing; a gear on the end of the rotor shaft; reduction gearing driven by said gear and located Within said gear case, drive means for said Wheel including an internally toothed ring gear mounted to the wheel and adjacent the cylindrical portion of the housing; drive means emanating from said reduction gearing and extending parallel to the axis of rotation of said Wheel and having a gear thereon protruding through a Wall of the cylindrical portion of said housing to drive said Wheel driving means.

7. A motorized wheel comprising in combination, a wheel; a housing; bearing means mounting said wheel for rotation upon said housing, the housing having a-n elongated end forming a gear case, the major axis of which lies substantially at a right angle to the axis of rotation of said wheel and in a substantially horizontal plane and having a cylindrical portion extending into and contained within the axial and radial confines of said wheel; a motor having a shaft mounted rotor contained within the cylindrical portion of the housing and having its shaft extending into the gear casing; a gear on the end of the rotor shaft; reduction gearing in said gear case driven by said gear, drive means for said wheel including an internally toothed ring gear mounted to the wheel and adjacent the cylindrical portion of the housing; drive means emanating from said reduction gearing and extending parallel to the axis of rotation of said wheel and having a gear thereon protruding through a wall of the cylindrical portion of said housing to drive said wheel driving means; trunnions on top and bottom walls of the gear case portion of said housing and adjacent its outer end near said cylindrical portion, and means for supporting said trunnions.

8. A motorized Wheel comprising' in combination, a wheel; a housing; bearing means mounting said wheel for rotation upon said housing, the housing having an elongated end forminga gear case the major axis of which lies substantially at a right angle to the axis of rotation of said Wheel and having a cylindrical portion extending into and contained within the axial and radial connes of said wheel; a hydraulic motor having a shaft mounted rotor contained within the cylindrical portion of the housing and having its shaft extending into the gear casing; a gear on the end of the rotor shaft; drive means for said wheel including an internally toothed ring gear mounted to the wheel and adjacent the cylindrical portion of the housing; a drive shaft within the housing connecting through reduction gearing to said wheel drive means; trunnions on opposite walls of the gear case portion of said housing; and brake means on said wheel, the said trunnions lying within the radial and substantially within the axial confines of the brake means.

9. A motorized wheel comprising in combination, a, wheel; an open ended housing forming a gear casing and a cylindrical portion cantilevered therefrom to form a stub axle; drive means for said wheel including an internally toothed gear attached thereto and positioned adjacent the end of said axle; a hydraulic motor contained within the axle and having a shaft mounted rotor, the shaft extending inwardly into the gear casing; a

gear on the end of said motor shaft; reduction gearing within the gear casing; a drive shaft extending substantially through the housing and connecting the motor shaft through the reduction gearing with the drive means for said wheel; a cover for the gear casing; trunnions on opposite sides of the gear casing, and means supporting said trunnions.

10. A motorized wheel comprising in combination, a wheel; an open ended housing forming a gear casing and a cylindrical portion cantilevered therefrom to `form a stub axle; drive means for said wheel including an internally toothed gear attached thereto and positioned adjacent the end of said axle; a hydraulic motor contained within the axle and having a shaft mounted rotor, the shaft extending inwardly into the gear casing; a gear on -the end of said motor shaft; reduction gearing within the gear casing; means on the end of said housing including a, support for the reduction gearing; a drive shaft emanating from the reduction gearing and extending parallel to the axis of said axle; and a gear on the drive shaft protruding through a wall of the axle and engaging the wheel driving means.

11. A motorized wheel comprising in combination, a wheel; an open ended housing forming a gear casing and a cylindrical portion cantilevered therefrom to form a stub axle; drive means for said wheel including an internally toothed gear attached thereto and positioned adjacent the end oi.' said axle; a hydraulic motor contained within the axle and having a shaft mounted rotor, the shaft extending inwardly -into the gear casing; a gear on the-end of said motor shaft; reduction the outer end of the axle, said closure means cooperating with the motor rotor to form inlet and exhaust valves for said motor.

means mounting said wheel for rotation on said' cylindrical portion, a driving motor for said wheel mounted within said cylindrical portion and within the radial connes of said bearing means, reduction gearing extending from said motor to said wheel including a plurality of gears located on horzontally spaced axes and within said gear housing portion of said stub shaft, and means including top and bottom trunnions for pivotally mounting said stub shaft for steering movement, said trunnions being formed on the outer part of said gear housing near the cylindrical portion of said stub shaft whereby the major portion of said gear housing is positioned inwardly of said trunnions.

SI'ERLING C. MOON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date I Great Britain Mar. 25, 1908 Great Britain Apr. 25, 1908 France Nov. 19, 1904 Number Number 

